Turbine.



W. ROBINSON.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1910.

I 1,030,329,, Patented June 25, 1912.

COLUMBIA FMNOURAPH 90., WASHINGTON. n. c.

WILLIAM ROBINSON, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TURBINE.

oaoeee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 25, 1912.

Application filed June 13, 1910. Serial No. 566,567.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, chiefly, to improvements for braking and reversing turbine engines, and is herein illustrated as applied, especially, to the invention described in my Patent No. 945,807, dated January 11, 1910, but may be used wherever applicable.

The nature of my invention will be understood from the description which follows,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a turbine steam engine, illustrating this invention; Fig. 2, below the dotted lines, illustrates in cross section, the relative arrangement of the rings of blades or buckets in the inner chamber B of Fig. 1, and above said dotted lines the relative arrangement of the rings of blades in the outer chamber A of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the arrangement of blades for applying braking or reversing power to the construction shown in Fig. 1.

The stationary shaft 1, provided with the radial expansions 2 thereon, is held in a fixed, non-rotatable position on the supports 3, 4, as indicated by the clamps shown at 23. This shaft 1 is provided with the stationary, non-rotatable sets of radial blades 5, 5. The outer shell or case 8 is also held rigidly in a fixed, non rotatable position by being anchored to the supporting or base plate 9, as by the supports 10. Said shell 8 is provided on its interior with parallel rings of fixed blades 5 projecting inwardly in a radial direction, as shown.

Between the fixed shaft 1 and the fixed outer shell 8 the rotor sleeve 14 is mounted rotatably and is provided on its interior with the rings of blades 15, co-acting with the rings of blades 5, secured to'said shaft 1, to drive said rotor sleeve 14. Said rotor sleeve is provided on its exterior with rings of blades 15 co-acting with the fixed rings of blades 5 also to drive said rotor.

The blades in the outer chamber A are intended to drive the rotor 14 in the same direction as the blades in the inner chamber secured rigidly B, that is, the blades in the two chambers A and B in operation reinforce each other to drive the rotor 14 in the same direction. This requires a peculiar arrangement of blades, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which, it will be noted,the rings of fixed blades 5 in the inner chamber B and 5 in the outer chamber A are oppositely inclined in a direction to deflect the steam impinging upon their respective concave surfaces in opposite directions against the concave surfaces of the respective rings of rotatable blades 15 and 15, thus causing the blades in the chambersA-and B to reinforce each other in driving the rotor forward in the direction of the arrow m The short supplemental working chamber C 1s separated from the chamber A by the annular partition N, which is preferably vious, however, that the partition N might Ebe rigidly secured to the rotor and rotate freely relatively to the casing 8. The functions of the chamber C will be described hereinafter.

The operation is as follows: lVhen the ivalve 61 is opened in the steam supply pipe 34 the steam enters the inner chamber B through theorifice 30 and the ports 32 in the'shaft 1, and thence passes through the length of said chamber in the direction of the arrow a2, imparting rotary motion to therotor 14, and passes out at the exhaust 68 at the opposite end of the machine.

The supply pipe 34 is connected also to the outer chamber A at said opposite end of the engine, as shown at a, and when the valve v62 in said steam supply pipe is opened the steam passes into the outer chamber A at a,

and traverses the length of said chamber in the direction of the arrow a to the exhaust 68 at the opposite end of said chamber A.- The live steam, entering the chamber B at 30 and passing therethrough, im-

pinges upon the fixed rings of blades 5, passing through between the same and reacts upon the parallel rotating rings of blades 15 secured to the interior of the rotor sleeve 14, thus rotating the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow w. The live steam admitted to the outer chamber A impinges upon the fixed rings of blades 5 secured to .the outer casing 8, passes through to the outer casing 8 and fitting close to the rotor 14, but permitting the free rotation of the latter within the in- .ner periphery of said partition. It is obbetween the same and reacts upon the rotating rings of blades 15 secured to the exterior of said rotor sleeve 14, thus imparting to said rotor additional power from live steam to drive said rotor forward in the direction of the arrow 00*. Thus, it will be understood, the steam in each of said chambers A and B reinforces that in the other chamber to drive the rotor in the same direction.

The chamber C is provided with working blades arranged as shown in Fig. 8, that is, arranged to operate in the reverse direction from that already described. Thus, steam from the supply pipe 34 passes through the valve M into the chamber C, preferably at its center, and, passing through the same in opposite directions, from its center toward its ends, as indicated by the arrows y, a, F1g. 3, impinges upon the oppositely inclined rings of fixed blades 15 and 15 at opposite sides of the center of said chamber and is deflected therefrom against the oppositely inclined rings of rotor blades 5 and 5, thus exerting a driving or resisting force on the rotor 14: in the direction of the arrow w that is, in a direction opposite to the normal driving direction of the rotor, as heretofore described.

It will be observed that by passing the steam into the chamber C at its center and causing it to pass in opposite directions therefrom to the exhausts 68 68 at its opposite ends, we not only utilize the chamber C for braking and reversing, but cause the steam at the same time to counterbalance the end thrust of the rotor which would be caused by passing the steam the whole length of said chamber C in only one direct-ion.

From the foregoing it is evident that when steam is shut oif from the forward driving chambers A and B the momentum of the rotor may be immediately overcome and the machine stopped by gradually admitting steam to the chamber C, 'or the rotor may be reversed by admitting more steam to said chamber C.

By the arrangement described we utilize both sides of the rotor sleeve for normal forward driving, and also utilize blades on a portion of the outer surface of the rotor for braking or reversing, as described.

The steam in passing through the inner chamber B in the direction of the arrow 00 has a tendency, by its pressure against the diagonal surface of the rotating blades, to impart to the rotor 14 an end thrust in the same direction. On the contrary, the steam in passing through the outer chamber A in the reverse direction, acting upon the rotor blades 15*, tends to impart an end thrust to said rotor in the direction of the arrow 2, thus tending to counterbalance the end thrust in the opposite direction caused by the steam passing through the inner chamber B, as described. Thus it is evident that the result of the end thrusts in opposite directions upon the rotor is to neutralize the effect of said end thrusts and to give the rotor a steady uniform rotation without end thrusts when the driving force is equalized in the two chambers.

The blades in the outer chamber A are farther from the center of the engine than those in the inner chamber B; the increased leverage and consequent power exerted by the steam -in the outer chamber, therefore, is correspondingly greater than that in the inner chamber. Furthermore, since there is much more space in the outer chamber than in the inner the number and the superficial surface of the blades in the outer chamber are correspondingly increased. In view of the above, therefore, it is evident that the power developed by live steam under normal pressure in the outer chamber A is much greater than that developed in the inner chamber B, although the outer chamber A, as herein illustrated, is shorter than the latter.

The valve operating stems or levers R, R, and R controlling the valves 61, 62 and M, are shown in Fig. 1 as flexibly connected together, whereby all of said valves may be controlled by the single rod or connection P.

The operation is as follows: Assume all the valves 61, 62 and hi to be in the neutral or closed position when their stems R, R" and R are in the vertical position shown. Then, however, the lever B is moved to the position indicated by b, for'instance, the valves 61 and 62 are opened, thus admitting steam simultaneously into the working chambers A and B, which operate to drive the machine in one direction, the valve M, however, meantime remaining closed. Returning the lever B to its normal position shown closes the valves 61 and 62, thus shut ting off operative fluid from said working chambers A and B, the rotor beingthus left free to run by its own momentum. Now when the lever B is moved toward the point 0 the valve M is opened and motive power gradually admitted into the reversing chamber C, thus operating as a brake to overcome the momentum of the rotor and to stop the same, all of which is accomplished without mechanical abrasion orfriction. A further movement of the lever B toward 0, when desired, will open the valve M wider, thus increasing the steam pressure in the cham ber C, and thereby reversing the engine. It will be understood that by this arrangement when the valve M is open the valves 61 and 62 are necessarily closed, and conversely, when the valve 61 and 62 are open the valve M is necessarily closed. Thus the careless or accidental admission of opposing forces into the opposing chambers at the same time is obviated. These results are accomplished by the relative arrangement of the ports in said valves.

The rod or connection P controlling these valve stems, may be provided, as shown, with a right and left hand adjusting screw T, or equivalent device, whereby said valves may be adjusted to admit a predetermined relative pressure to the various chambers, for instance to equalize the pressure in the chambers A and B, and, when desired, to limit the pressure admissible to the chamber C to that required for braking purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A turbine engine embodying two concentric working chambers, each provided with co-acting blades or buckets arranged to drive the rotor in the same direction, and a third or supplemental working chamber provided with co-acting blades arranged to ap ply motive pressure to said rotor in the reverse direction, for braking or reversing purposes.

2. A turbine engine embodying two concentric working chambers, each provided with co-acting blades or buckets arranged to apply driving pressure to drive the rotor in the same direction, and a supplemental working chamber embodying a portion of the exterior surface of the rotor and provided with co-acting blades arranged to apply motive pressure to said rotor in the reverse direction, for braking or reversing purposes.

3. A turbine embodying a rotor provided on both sides with blades cooperating with an internal and also with an external stator, thereby forming two independent working chambers through 'which steam may be passed either simultaneously or in succession for unidirectional driving, and a supplemental working chamber embodying a portion of the surface of the rotor and provided with cooperating blades having their surfaces inclined at a reverse angle from those in the main driving chamber, whereby steam admitted to said supplemental chamber will exert a reversing or braking pressure upon the blades therein, thereby operat ing to brake or to reverse the direction of rotation of the engine.

4:. A turbine comprising a rotor provided on both sides with blades cooperating with an internal and. also with an external stator, thereby forming two independent working chambers through which steam may be passed either simultaneously or independently for unidirectional driving, and a supplemental working chamber embodying a portion of the outer surface of the rotor and of the inner surface of the outer stator, and provided with cooperating reversing blades for braking or reversing the forward driving direction of the rotor when steam is ad mitted to said supplemental chamber.

5. A turbine comprising a rotor provided on both sides with blades cooperating with an internal and also with an external stator, thereby forming two independent working chambers through which steam may be passed either simultaneously or independently for unidirectional driving, and a supplemental working chamber embodying a portion of the outer surface of the rotor and of the inner surface of the outer stator, and provided with cooperating reversing blades for braking or reversing the forward driving direction of the rotor when steam is admitted to said supplemental chamber, the cooperating blades in said supplemental cham ber being grouped in two sets at opposite sides of the center thereof, whereby steam admitted to said supplemental chamber will divide and pass in opposite directions through said groups of blades to the exhaust, thereby balancing and neutralizing the end thrust of the rotor when under braking or reversing conditions. i

6. In a turbine embodying two concentric working chambers, each provided with coacting blades arranged to drive the rotor in the same direction, the combination therewith of means for applying fluid pressure to retard, stop or reverse the forward rotation of the rotor when its forward driving pressure is out 05, said means embodying a supplemental chamber with co-acting sets of blades therein arranged for exerting motive pressure on the engine in the reverse direction, said respective sets of blades being oppositely inclined relatively to each other, and so arranged that steam admitted to said supplemental chamber will divide and pass through said oppositely inclined sets of blades in opposite directions to the exhaust, thereby counterbalancing and neutralizing the end thrust of the rotor when under braking or reversing pressure.

7. A turbine comprising a rotor provided on both sides with blades cooperating with an internal and with an external stator, thereby forming two independent working chambers, and means for passing steam, under an equalized pressure, in opposite di rections through said working chambers simultaneously, thereby securing an equal and neutralized end thrust of said rot-or in opposite directions, and a supplemental reversing chamber, provided with cooperating blades arranged for braking or reversing said rotor, and means for passing steam, under an equalized pressure, from an intermediate point, through said reversing cham ber in opposite directions, thereby securing an equalized and neutralized end thrust exerted upon the rotor in said reversing chamber, when under braking or reversing pressure.

chambers simultaneously, or shut ofi' fromboth of said driving chambers and simultaneously admitted to said reversing chamher for braking or reversing purposes, or shut oil from all of said chambers simultaneously. I

9. A turbine engine embodying a casing and rotor comprising two independent working chambers, each provided with cooperating blades arranged for unidirectional driving of the rotor, and a third or supplemental chamber provided with cooperating blades arranged to apply motive pressure to said rotor in the reverse direction, for braking or reversing purposes, when steam or operative fluid is admitted thereto.

10. A turbine comprising a rotor provided on both its interior and its exterior with blades cooperating with an internal and also with an external stator similarly provided with blades, thereby forming two independent working chambers, and means for passing steam under an equalized pressure in opposite directions through said working chambers simultaneously, thereby securing an equal and neutralized end thrust of said rotor in opposite directions, and a third or supplemental chamber provided with cooperating blades arranged to apply reversing pressure to said rotor for braking or reversing the direction of rotation of the same, the blades in said chamber being arranged in groups causing the steam or motive power to pass in opposite directions therein, thereby securing an equal and neutralized end thrust exerted upon the rotor in said reversing chamber when under braking or reversing pressure.

WVILLIAM ROBINSON.

WVitnesses J. R. FRITH, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

